Three types of 4-sun boxes
A new week begins today. However, as the news mentioned this morning, the trains and roads were not crowded. That’s because tomorrow is a national holiday, and many companies decided to take today off as well, making it a long weekend. The weather was beautiful, the temperature stayed comfortable, and the humidity was low, so I think it must have been a great day for people enjoying their holidays.
As for me, I went to my workshop as usual and continued my work. Since the humidity was in the 40% range, it was perfect for attaching the sliding key (kannuki) panels on 4-sun 18-steps puzzle boxes. These boxes are already at the stage where I attach the sliding key panels, and today I finished one side. I will attach the other side on another day.
As you can see in the photo, this time I used walnut veneer for the top and bottom panels, which I haven’t done for a while. In the past, I avoided these walnut sheets because they sometimes had small defects. But recently I received a request from an overseas shop for boxes (14-steps puzzle boxes) using walnut panels, so I bought new veneer. Fortunately, this batch turned out to be in excellent condition with no visible flaws, so the work is going smoothly.
A little while ago, when I noticed scratches in rosewood veneer, I learned how to carefully shave them down to make them disappear. So from now on, I’ll be able to handle similar problems with more confidence.
I’ve already decided to make more 4-sun 27-steps puzzle boxes next. After that, I will work on 4-sun 10-steps drawer puzzle boxes. These are being made by request from an overseas shop, but unfortunately, I may not be able to prepare many for my own stock.
I may continue to make these boxes in the future, though they’re not in the traditional Yosegi style. Still, I think they’re interesting designs, and like the 5-sun drawer puzzle boxes, I would like to keep making them.
Since these are small 4-sun size boxes, the drawers naturally become small, especially the inside depth is small. That’s the difficult part. I try to find the right balance and make the drawers as deep as possible within the size limits.
Today I prepared the boards with Yosegi patterns that will be used for those puzzle boxes. Once I start making them, I’ll write about it again.
As for me, I went to my workshop as usual and continued my work. Since the humidity was in the 40% range, it was perfect for attaching the sliding key (kannuki) panels on 4-sun 18-steps puzzle boxes. These boxes are already at the stage where I attach the sliding key panels, and today I finished one side. I will attach the other side on another day.
As you can see in the photo, this time I used walnut veneer for the top and bottom panels, which I haven’t done for a while. In the past, I avoided these walnut sheets because they sometimes had small defects. But recently I received a request from an overseas shop for boxes (14-steps puzzle boxes) using walnut panels, so I bought new veneer. Fortunately, this batch turned out to be in excellent condition with no visible flaws, so the work is going smoothly.
A little while ago, when I noticed scratches in rosewood veneer, I learned how to carefully shave them down to make them disappear. So from now on, I’ll be able to handle similar problems with more confidence.
I’ve already decided to make more 4-sun 27-steps puzzle boxes next. After that, I will work on 4-sun 10-steps drawer puzzle boxes. These are being made by request from an overseas shop, but unfortunately, I may not be able to prepare many for my own stock.
I may continue to make these boxes in the future, though they’re not in the traditional Yosegi style. Still, I think they’re interesting designs, and like the 5-sun drawer puzzle boxes, I would like to keep making them.
Since these are small 4-sun size boxes, the drawers naturally become small, especially the inside depth is small. That’s the difficult part. I try to find the right balance and make the drawers as deep as possible within the size limits.
Today I prepared the boards with Yosegi patterns that will be used for those puzzle boxes. Once I start making them, I’ll write about it again.
